Prevention of biocontamination by mailing

ABSTRACT

For a biological contamination by mail of a person to who it is addressed an envelope is used which has a material which forms an envelope with a closed inner space, and at least one throughgoing opening provided in the material so as to communicate an interior of the envelope with its exterior so that if a particulate material is introduced into the interior of the envelope it will discharge through the at least one through going opening outwardly and the particulate material will not stay in the interior of the envelope.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an envelope for and a method of preventing a biological contamination of mail.

It is known to mail documents and other objects in envelopes which are used nowadays in many millions of pieces everyday. Recently attempts have been made by terrorists to spread biological contamination by introducing into envelopes substances which cause infectious diseases such as for example anthrax. For this purpose, a corresponding particulate biocontaminating material is introduced into envelopes by terrorists and mailed to corresponding people. lat envelopes, packages, boxes, etc. It is believed that its very important to prevent such possible biocontamination of people, whom they specifically target. The term “envelope” is used in this application to designate any enclosure suitable for mailing, such as flat envelopes, packages, boxes, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a biocontamination preventing mailing envelope, and a biocontamination preventing method of mailing.

In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in an envelope for mailing documents and the like, which includes a material which forms a closed envelope; and at least one throughgoing opening which communicates an interior of the envelope with an exterior so that any particulate material which can be introduced into envelope for the purpose of biocontamination can emerge from the interior of the envelope through said at least one throughgoing opening outwardly and therefore the delivered envelope will not contain the particulate material anymore.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of mailing so as to prevent a biological contamination, by introducing documents and other objects into an envelope which has a material which forms an envelope with a closed inner space, and at least throughgoing opening which communicates an interior of the envelope with an exterior so that any particulate material which can be introduced into envelope for the purpose of biocontamination can emerge from the interior of the envelope through said at least one throughgoing opening outwardly and therefore the delivered envelope will not contain the particulate material anymore.

When the envelope is designed and the method of mailing is performed in accordance with the present invention, any particulate material which is introduced into the envelope by a potential bioterrorist will not stay in the envelope since it will inevitably discharge through the throughgoing opening in the envelope, and therefore the envelope delivered to a person targeted by a terrorist will be harmless.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing an envelope in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing an envelope in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an envelope in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an envelope in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a view showing an envelope in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention with a document located inside the envelope.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An envelope for mailing documents and the like in accordance with the present invention is identified as a whole with reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 and is formed so as to enclose a closed inner space. Only a front side of the envelope 1 is shown in FIG. 1, and it is to be understood that a rear side can be substantially conventional and made with an opening for insertion a document and a flap provided for example with adhesives so as to close the opening after insertion of the document.

The material of the envelope 1 is identified with reference numeral 2 and can be a known material, for example paper. The envelope in accordance with the present invention further has at least one opening which is identified with the reference numeral 3. In the example shown in FIG. 1 there are four openings located substantially close to the four outer edges of the envelope. In accordance with the present invention the opening are formed as throughgoing holes, or in other words such openings which communicate the interior an interior of the envelope with an exterior. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the throughgoing openings 3 are illustrated as provided in the front wall of the envelope. However, they can extend both through the front wall of the envelope and the rear wall of the envelope as well.

When a person mails a document or the like he or she introduces the document into the interior of the envelope and closes the envelope. If however a terrorist or a person having bad intentions is willing to introduce into the envelope a material which can cause biocontamination, such a material, which is usually a particulate material will not stay inside the envelope because it is provided now with throughgoing openings 3. Such material will inevitably discharge through the throughgoing openings outside.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. Here the envelope 21 is formed by a material 22 which forms a substantially similar envelope. The envelope 21 is provided with of at least one opening 23 which is formed as a semi-circular throughgoing opening. Four openings are provided in this embodiment as an example and located near the four edges of the envelope. The openings 23 can also be provided either in the front wall or in both walls of the envelope.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the envelope 31 formed by the material 32 has two corners. For example two opposite corners which are cut off, so as to provide throughgoing openings 33 in these corners. Thus, if a particulate material which can cause biological contamination is introduced into the envelope, it will inevitably discharge through the openings 33 in the cutoff corners.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the envelope 41 also is composed of a material 42 which forms a closed inner space, and slots, for example two slots 43 are provided, for example in two opposite edges of the envelope. The slots 43 can be formed as cut-off parts of the edges. If any particulate material is introduced into the envelope, it will discharge through the slots 43.

FIG. 5 shows an envelope 1 which is formed in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1 and has four throughgoing openings 3. A letter 4 is inserted in the interior of the envelope. As can be seen from the drawings, at least one throughgoing opening 3 will always be completely exposed so that the particulate material will discharge through the throughgoing opening 3 which in this example is located near the right edge of the envelope.

The above mentioned embodiments of the envelope for mailing which prevent biocontamination of a person to which the envelope is addressed, can have various modifications within the spirit of the present invention, and not only those which are shown in the drawings.

A method of mailing in accordance with the present invention is carried with the use of the inventive envelopes, in which a document or the like is introduced into an envelope which has at least one throughgoing opening communicating the interior of the envelope with the exterior of the envelope, so that any particulate material discharges through the throughgoing opening.

In accordance with the inventive method of mailing, some additional steps can be provided to ensure that the contamination material can not be retained in the envelope. First of all, during the sorting process and other processes the envelopes inevitably are turned many times, and therefore this assists in discharge of the particulate material from the interior of the envelope. In addition, it is possible to provide a step of and a device for shaking envelopes, for example a shaking conveyor, a shaking device and the like, when envelopes are transmitted on a shaking conveyor or introduced into a shaking device, the discharge of the particulate material from the interior of the envelope is significantly enhanced.

It is possible that terrorists who are willing to cause biocontamination of a person to which they mail the envelope will introduce for example a glue in the interior of the envelope around a corresponding throughgoing opening so as to nevertheless isolate the interior of the envelope from its exterior and to prevent discharge of the particulate material from the interior of the envelope. In accordance with the inventive method, it is proposed to test the throughgoing openings in the envelope whether they remain throughgoing or blocked from inside. For this purpose any tool is introduced through the throughgoing opening, for example a pin to make sure that the throughgoing opening is completely open into the interior of the envelope, or a conventional knife for opening the envelopes can be introduced through the throughgoing opening or openings to make sure that they remain throughgoing openings and not blocked from inside of the envelope.

Also, the envelopes can be tested by corresponding devices, for example by radiation, on which penetrate through the envelopes to find out whether the throughgoing openings remain open or are blocked from inside.

With the present invention since the envelopes have throughgoing openings through which the particulate material discharges outwardly, a recipient of the letter in such an envelope when it opens the envelope can not be exposed to the biocontaminating particulate material, and therefore the very purpose of a terrorist to provide contamination of a person to which he is sending a letter will be defeated.

Also it is possible that while retaining the throughgoing openings, a terrorist will fold and make a closed inner envelope from the letter he is sending and introduces the contaminated material into it. In this case the recipient must not open such letter, after he opens the envelope.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in biocontamination preventing mailing envelope, and biocontamination preventing method of mailing, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

1. An envelope preventing a biological contamination by mail of a person to who it is mailed, comprising a material which forms an envelope with a closed inner space; and at least one throughgoing opening provided in said material so as to communicate an interior of the envelope with its exterior so that if a particulate material is introduced into the interior of the envelope it will discharge through said at least one through going opening outwardly and the particulate material will not stay in the interior of the envelope.
 2. An envelope as defined in claim 1; and further comprising at least one another throughgoing opening which is spaced from said first mentioned throughgoing opening.
 3. An envelope as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one throughgoing opening is located in one wall of the envelope.
 4. An envelope as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one throughgoing opening extends through two opposite walls of the envelope.
 5. An envelope as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one throughgoing opening is formed as a cutoff edge of the envelope.
 6. An envelope as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one throughgoing opening is formed as a circular opening.
 7. An envelope as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one throughgoing opening is formed as a semi-circular opening.
 8. An envelope as defined in claim 1, wherein said throughgoing opening is formed as an elongated slot.
 9. An envelope as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one throughgoing opening is located near at least one edge of the envelope.
 10. A method of preventing biological contamination by mail of a person to who it is addressed, comprising the steps of providing an envelope which is formed of a material which forms the envelope with a closed inner space; and forming in the material at least one throughgoing opening which communicates an interior of the envelope with an exterior of the envelope, so that if a particulate material is introduced into the interior of the envelope it will discharge through the at least one throughgoing opening.
 11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein said step of providing at least one throughgoing opening includes providing a plurality of throughgoing openings in the material.
 12. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein said step of providing at least one throughgoing opening includes providing the opening with a shape selected from the group consisting of a circular shape, a semi-circular shape, and a slot shape.
 13. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein said providing at least one throughgoing opening includes providing said throughgoing opening at an edge of said envelope.
 14. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein said step of providing at least one throughgoing opening includes providing said at least one throughgoing opening in at least one wall of the envelope.
 15. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein said step of providing at least one throughgoing opening includes providing said at least one throughgoing opening in two opposite walls of the envelope.
 16. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein said step of providing at least one throughgoing opening includes cutting off at least one corner of the envelope.
 17. A method as defined in claim 10; and further comprising shaking an envelope so as to enhance discharging of the particulate material from the interior of the analog to its exterior.
 18. A method as defined in claim 10; and further comprising testing a throughgoing nature of said throughgoing opening by introducing a tool through said throughgoing opening.
 19. A method as defined in claim 10; and further comprising the step of testing a throughgoing nature of said throughgoing opening by irradiating the envelope with a radiation showing whether the throughgoing opening is closed or open. 